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San Francisco attack: Khalistanis associated with SB403 main witness ‘Dalit Diva’ Thenmozhi? Congressional Candidate highlights her sharing stage with SFJ

OpIndia Staff
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San Francisco attack: Khalistanis associated with SB403 main witness ‘Dalit Diva’ Thenmozhi? Congressional Candidate highlights her sharing stage with SFJ

On 4th July, US Congressional Candidate Ritesh Tandon condemned the attack on Indian Consulate in San Francisco. Tagging Ambassador of India to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Consul General of India Dr TV Nagendra Prasad, he highlighted that the Indian community is being attacked through bills like SB403 that Aishabb Wahab tabled.

Tandon published a photograph in the tweet where the main witness of SB403 and founder of Equality Labs, Thenmozhi Soundararajan, can be seen sharing the stage with Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun who is the founder of Khalistani terrorist organisation Sikhs For Justice or SFJ.

He also questioned the lack of action against pro-Khalistani individuals like Amar Singh Shergull, who previously served as Chairman in a left Democratic group and now collaborating with Democrats to “escalate attacks on the Indian community” through bills like SB403. He further called out his political opponent Ro Khanna for not saying a word against the attack on Indian Consulate in San Francisco. Khanna, who was visibly active on social media after the attack, did not condemn it from his personal or official handles.

Tandon wrote, “I strongly condemn the reported acts of vandalism, attempted arson, and fire targeting the Indian Consulate in San Francisco Dr TV Nagendra Prasad and Taranjit Singh Sandhu. These criminal offences are highly reprehensible. It is disappointing to witness the lack of action from California Governor Gavin Newsom and the US Government, President Biden and VP Harris in safeguarding the Indian Consulate. Moreover, it is concerning that no action has been taken against Khalistani individuals, particularly when the leader Amar Singh Shergill of the Khalistani movement previously served as Chairman in a left Democratic group and is now collaborating with Democrats to escalate attacks on the Indian community through bills like SB403 [tabled by] Aisha Wahab. It is truly shameful that the main witness of SB403 is associated with Khalistani individuals. It raises concerns about the state of democracy in America. No words or any action from my opponent Ro Khanna.”

The photograph that shows Thenmozhi Soundararajan with SFJ’s Gurpatwant Singh Pannun

The image shared by Tandon was from a program that took place at the Allan P. Kirby Center for Constitutional Studies and Statesmanship in Washington, DC. Upon research, we found another photograph of the same event that was shared by the Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective USA (HinduPACT) in June 2022.

In a tweet, HinduPACT said the photograph was from an event that took place on 22nd May 2019. If the date is correct, this particular event shows a much larger sinister plan, as it was just one day before the Lok Sabha 2019 elections results were announced. On the same day, Soundararajan’s Equality Lab, in partnership with South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT), then-API Chaya, and the office of representative Pramila Jayapal held a congressional briefing on caste discrimination in the US in Washington DC. Notably, that briefing was based on the dubious survey that Equality Labs did on caste discrimination. The same survey led to the SB403 bill that Tandon mentioned in his tweet.

Attack on Indian Consulate in San Francisco

On 2nd July (local time), Khalistanis carried out an arson attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco city of United States. The pro-Khalistani elements set the building on fire between 1:30 am and 2:30 am on Sunday. However, the damage was limited, and the staffers escaped unharmed. The San Francisco fire department quickly doused the fire. The local, State, and federal authorities were also notified about the incident. A video of the incident went viral on social media.

Amar Singh Shergill has an association with pro-Khalistani and anti-India elements

Amar Singh Shergill has a long history of anti-India activities. In February 2021, Hindu American Foundation (HAF) alleged that Shergill Amar, who is Chair of the California Democratic Progressive Caucus, and Pieter Friedrich, a known pro-Khalistani, were running campaigns against all Indian American and Hindu lawmakers.

He has been actively working against India’s interests. Recently, he has been seen siding with Hindus for Human Rights, a dubious anti-Hindu and anti-India organization that has links to George Soros. He has been a staunch promoter of the SB403 bill.

SFJ and Pannun

Sikhs For Justice, or SFJ, is a banned Khalistani terrorist organization. Its founder and deemed terrorist, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has been actively promoting the Khalistani movement and inciting Sikh youth against India. He has been running a so-called referendum voting to establish Sikh nation named Khalistan by separating Punjab, parts of Himachal Pradesh, and other states from India.

SFJ has funded several anti-India activities, including defacing government buildings, installing the Khalistan flag on government buildings, and more. The organization was also accused of hoisting the alien flag on Red Fort in the background of the Tractor Rally during farmer protests on 26th January 2021 that went violent.

Uttar Pradesh: Bulldozer action continues against Sikandar Khan, who raped a 19-year-old Hindu girl and crushed her head in Fatehpur

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Bulldozer action continues against Sikandar Khan, who raped a 19-year-old Hindu girl and crushed her head in Fatehpur

The bulldozing action at the residence of Sonu alias Sikandar Khan accused of raping and murdering a 19-year-old Hindu girl from Fatehpur continued on 4th July 2023.

The action of the bulldozer has caused a stir in the area. A heavy police force was deployed in the Jwalaganj area of Fatehpur. During this time a large number of forces including SDM, and Nayab Tehsildar were present.

Authorities in Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh, had started demolishing the residence of Sikandar Khan on Tuesday, June 27 when the demolition took place in the presence of the sub-divisional magistrate and a large force of police.

Sikandar Khan, also known as Sonu, was apprehended by the police on June 26 and subsequently incarcerated as the primary accused in the heinous crime of raping and murdering a 19-year-old girl. In response to the public outcry, the administration initiated measures to address the situation. The brutal rape of the girl occurred on June 22, and tragically, the victim succumbed to her injuries in the hospital two days later.

The demolition drive at the residence of this accused continued on 4th July 2023. The authorities had initiated the action a week ago. The remaining parts of the building were demolished by the bulldozers on 4th July 2023.

As reported earlier, the Uttar Pradesh Police on June 26 arrested a man identified as Sikandar Khan for raping and brutally assaulting a Hindu girl. Four police teams, led by the CO, were formed to arrest the accused. The accused crushed the face of the victim girl with a cement block and fled from the spot. The girl later breathed her last at the hospital where she was undergoing treatment.

The accused and the girl happened to meet at a wedding where the former introduced himself as a Hindu person named Sonu. He convinced the girl to meet him alone. The girl then managed to escape the wedding ceremony of her cousin and met Sonu. The accused then raped her and crushed her head with a cement block.

Sikandar fled from the spot after brutally assaulting the girl. However, the family members of the girl came looking for the girl and found her struggling for life. The girl was taken to the Kanpur Hallett Hospital where she breathed her last during the treatment.

As per the reports, the victim girl hailed from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and had come to Fatehpur for her cousin’s wedding. She was trapped by the accused who introduced himself as a Hindu person named Sonu.

The police also registered an FIR against the accused’s father and his brother. Accused Sonu alias Sikander, his father, and his brother were arrested and sent to jail. Now in this case of love jihad, bulldozer action has been taken at the house of the accused. The incident took place in the Faridpur village of Bindki. The matter was investigated by the Sadar Kotwali police station in Fatehpur.

Madhya Pradesh: Accused Pravesh Shukla who was seen urinating on a tribal youth in viral video arrested, CM Chouhan says strict action will be taken

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh: Accused Pravesh Shukla who was seen urinating on a tribal youth in viral video arrested, CM Chouhan says strict action will be taken

In Sidhi, Madhya Pradesh, a disturbing video emerged on 4th July 2023, showing a man engaging in an appalling act of urinating on a poor tribal individual. The accused individual, Pravesh Shukla, is simultaneously smoking a cigarette in the video.

Initially, the media and social media users shared that Pravesh Shukla is a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader. Still, Gurudutt Sharan Shukla, son of Sidhi MLA Kedarnath Shukla and the MLA himself stated that this person is not associated with the BJP. The video quickly went viral on social media.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan ordered the authorities to take stringent action against accused Pravesh Shukla in this case. Chief Minister Chouhan said that the accused will not be spared at any cost.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “The accused has tarnished humanity. He has committed a very inhuman act. An offence for which the harshest punishment is imposed. Even the harshest words fall short of it. But I have instructed that the strictest punishment should be given and the strictest action should be taken. There should be an action that becomes an example.”

When asked about the purported affiliation of the accused with the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “We will not spare him at any cost. The criminal has no caste, no religion, and no party. The culprit is only a criminal, and he must face punishment.”

Shivraj Singh Chouhan also shared a tweet about the action being taken in this case. He wrote, “A viral video of Sidhi district has come to my notice. I have instructed the administration to arrest the culprit and take strict action and also impose NSA.”

BJP MLA Kedarnath Shukla denies any association with the accused Pravesh Shukla

On social media, the man who urinated on a tribal man sitting on the stairs was described as a close supporter of local MLA Kedarnath Shukla, but the MLA himself has denied this. The victim has been identified as Pale Kol. BJP MLA Kedarnath Shukla has clarified that Pravesh Shukla is not his aide.

Kedarnath Shukla said, “He (the culprit in the video) is neither my representative nor an associate. He is not connected to BJP in any way. I am demanding strict action against the culprit. When we visit our constituency, so many people click photos with us. But he is not attached to us in any way. He has shamed humanity and strict action should be taken against him.”

Congress accuses BJP of oppressing tribals

The Congress has started politics on this matter. Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath has claimed that Madhya Pradesh is number one in atrocities on tribal communities.

The BJP’s media wing has also clarified that the accused is not a party leader. Madhya Pradesh BJP media in-charge Ashish Agarwal said the man named Pravesh Shukla has no connection with the Bharatiya Janata Party. He made it clear that the Bharatiya Janata Party will always oppose any evil act against the tribal community. At the same time, he also said that the state BJP demands strict action against this person.

Earlier, on 4th July 2023, the video went viral in which the accused was seen urinating on the poor victim. As the video was circulated online it drew massive outrage and criticism from the social media users.

Deputy SP Priya Singh from Sidhi stated that appropriate action will be taken once all the facts surrounding the video are confirmed. She emphasized the need to ascertain whether a person from the Dalit community was targeted in the incident.

Accused Pravesh Shukla arrested

Meanwhile, the accused was arrested late in the night. Anjulata Patle, Additional SP, Sidhi provided more information about the investigation. She said, “As the video of urinating on the victim surfaced, a case was registered in the Bahri police station. The culprit was arrested after booking the case. A team of police personnel from three police stations was formed and they collected information from the sources. The accused was arrested at around 2 o’clock in the night. He will now be investigated.”

She added, “Based on the information, the police raided a few nearby villages. He was then arrested as per the information provided by various sources.”

Rewa Range DIG Mithilesh Shukla said that after taking cognizance of the viral video, the police have registered a case at Bahri police station. The accused has been booked under Sections 294 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The DIG said that the video is 6 days old.

USA: Cocaine found inside White House’s West Wing when President Biden was away at Camp David

ANI
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USA: Cocaine found inside White House’s West Wing when President Biden was away at Camp David

A suspicious white-colored substance found at the White House over the weekend has been identified as cocaine, reported Al Jazeera citing the United States media outlets.

The powder was found by Secret Service agents in a publicly accessible area of the West Wing on Sunday around 8:45 pm local time, prompting the evacuation of the complex for a brief moment. President Joe Biden wasn’t present at the time. Instead, he was spending the weekend at Camp David, the presidential retreat.

Fire and emergency service personnel arrived to conduct quick testing on the material. These preliminary examinations revealed that the powder was cocaine.

Soon later, the White House reopened, and the powder was sent for more testing.

While stating that an “item” had been discovered and tested, the Secret Service has not yet specified what the material was.

“The item was sent for further evaluation, and an investigation into the cause and manner of how it entered the White House is pending,” the agency, which is tasked with presidential security, said in a statement, as per Al Jazeera.

However, the drug was identified by many media outlets, citing government sources. The Washington Post also reported, “a firefighter with the DC department’s hazardous materials team radioed the results of the tested powder.”

“We have a yellow bar saying cocaine hydrochloride,” said the radio dispatch. The area where the cocaine was recovered is regularly accessed by tour groups.

The West Wing is a section of the White House that is connected to the president’s residence, the executive mansion. The Oval Office, the Cabinet Room, and the Press Room are all located there, along with the president’s staff members’ offices and workplaces.

There are hundreds of people who frequently visit or work in the area.

Biden and his family left for Camp David on Friday and returned to the White House on Tuesday, where the president was scheduled to address a national teachers’ union and hold a BBQ to celebrate the US Independence Day, Al Jazeera reported.

 (This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Covering up and spray painting was not enough: Taliban orders closure of all hair and beauty salons run by women

OpIndia Staff
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Covering up and spray painting was not enough: Taliban orders closure of all hair and beauty salons run by women

On the 4th of July, the Taliban’s morality ministry dictated that all women-run establishments like hair and beauty salons be shut down within a month of getting initial information, which was passed to them on the 2nd of July. 

As per Bloomberg, the Tabilan’s Ministry of Vice and Virtue released a text message to pass on this diktat. In the text message, the Ministry stated that “all beauty salons operated by women in Kabul and other provinces should be banned immediately and follow our order”. 

Further, the Taliban’s ministry also warned these women-run establishments to not violate its order otherwise they would have to “face legal action”. 

Spokesman of the Ministry of Vice and Virtue, Mohammad Sadiq Akif stated that starting from 2nd July, when they were initially informed about the decision, businesses have been given a one-month deadline to comply.

The Taliban-run administration did not give any explanation for banning beauty parlors. Additionally, they did not offer any alternative options for women once these hair and beauty salons are closed down. However, the Taliban stated that it respects women’s rights in accordance with its interpretation of Islamic law and Afghan customs.

“The Taliban are taking away the most basic human rights from Afghan women. They are violating women’s rights. By this decision, they are now depriving women of serving each other. When I heard the news, I was completely shocked”, said an anonymous Afghan woman while talking to BBC. 

She added, “It seems the Taliban do not have any political plan other than focusing on women’s bodies. They are trying to eliminate women at every level of public life.”

Restrictions on Afghan Women

This recent restriction on women’s rights is part of a systematic and broader range of regressive measures taken by the Taliban since the terror outfit regained control over Afghan soil, two years ago. 

Under the Taliban rule, teenage girls and women have been barred from classrooms, gyms, and parks. Most recently they were banned from working for the United Nations.

Further, the Taliban have enforced a strict dress code for women. Women in Afghanistan have to cover up and wear a dress in such a way that it only reveals their eyes. Additionally, women have to be accompanied by their male relatives if they are traveling more than 72 kilometers (48 miles).

According to Bloomberg, women in Afghanistan can only work in hospitals as nurses and doctors. Currently, this is the last and only job women are allowed to perform under Taliban rule. However, media reports claim that these increasing restrictions have forced women to work secretively from home as teachers and makeup artists. 

From 1996 to 2001, the previous Taliban regime had also imposed sweeping restrictions on Women’s rights and curbed their freedoms. For Afghan women, the recent closure of beauty parlors reminds them of the dark times under the previous Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

However, when the US invaded Afghanistan in 2001, beauty salons reopened and operated normally till the Taliban regained power two years ago. Although the Taliban didn’t immediately shut down hair and beauty salons, they asked shops to cover and spray-paint their windows and posters to conceal the faces of women on them. 

The International community has yet again condemned the recent order by the Taliban regime. However, the terrorist group has continued to impose these restrictions against women’s rights.

US: 5 dead and 2 injured in Philadelphia mass shooting, shooter in custody

OpIndia Staff
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US: 5 dead and 2 injured in Philadelphia mass shooting, shooter in custody

On Monday night, the 3rd of July, five people were killed and two children were injured in a mass shooting in the US city of Philadelphia. The gunman was heavily armed and fired shots indiscriminately. 

At a news conference, Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw informed about the details of the case. As per the Police Commissioner, three victims were in the age range of 20 to 59 years old, while the identity of the fourth victim was not yet ascertained. But the victim’s age was estimated to be between 16 and 21. 

Later, the Police discovered a body inside a building in the same neighbourhood and he is believed to be yet another victim of this mass shooting.  

The two injured (their ages are 2 and 13) were hospitalised and are in stable condition. The Commissioner confirmed that all the victims were male. 

Police chased and arrested the gunman

Initially, the locals called Police to the city’s south-western Kingsessing area at around 8:30 PM (local time). However, when the officers were helping the gunshot victims and preparing to send them to the hospital, they heard more gunshots in two other areas of the neighbourhood.

Subsequently, the officers chased the suspected assailant on foot while the gunman kept firing and damaging parked vehicles.

After evading the Police for more than ten minutes, the assailant was cornered by the Police officers in an alley. With no way to escape, the gunman surrendered and was taken into custody without further incident.

Outlaw stated that officers chased the 40-year-old suspect, who wore a bulletproof vest, as he continued to fire, and he was arrested in an alleyway after surrendering. 

She added that the arrested suspect carried multiple magazines, an “AR-type rifle,” a handgun, and a police scanner. 

Outlaw said, “Thank God our officers were on the scene and responded as quickly as they did. I can’t even describe the level of bravery and courage that was shown, in addition to the restraint that was shown here.”

Afterward, the Police also arrested another person who had acquired a gun and shot in the direction of the alleged shooter. However, it is not clear whether the second person has any connection to the gunman or not. 

Commissioner said, “And at this point, we don’t see a connection between any of the victims and the shooter.” 

She added that she had “absolutely no idea why this happened” and is trying to find the ‘why’ behind the incident and what could be the potential motive of the shooter.

She said, “We’re canvassing the area to get as much as we can – to identify witnesses, to identify where cameras are located, and do everything we can to figure out the ‘why’ behind this happening.” 

Till the time of reporting the incident, the identity of the suspect was not revealed.

Jaipur: Sohail Khan abducts and rapes minor girl, later brainwashes and attempts to convert her to Islam, arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Jaipur: Sohail Khan abducts and rapes minor girl, later brainwashes and attempts to convert her to Islam, arrested

On July 4, Tuesday, the Jaipur police in Rajasthan said that they have arrested a man named Sohail Khan for allegedly kidnapping, raping and trying to forcibly convert a minor girl to Islam. The accused was arrested and produced before a court on Monday where the magistrate sent him to judicial custody.

The action was taken based on a complaint lodged by the victim’s father on Saturday (July 1), accusing Sohail Khan of abducting his 16-year-old daughter some days back and taking her to Sawai Madhopur where he raped her.

Sub Inspector of Mansarovar Police Station Rakesh Meena said that the father of the victim also alleged that the accused brainwashed his daughter and tried to convert her to Islam.

The father said that his minor girl was brainwashed to such an extent that she started calling herself a Muslim after she returned home.

According to several media reports, Sohail Khan had befriended the minor girl a few days back. On June 20, the minor left her home in Jaipur. She told her parents that she was going to her friend’s birthday party, however, when she did not return home. On June 24, when she came back, she began referring to herself as Ismayra Khan.

After observing the girl’s behaviour, the father filed a complaint on July 1, based on which the police registered an FIR and started investigating the matter. Since the victim is a minor, sections of the POCSO Act were invoked against Sohail Khan.

Maharashtra: 15 killed in Dhule after truck crashes into 4 vehicles, rams into hotel

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: 15 killed in Dhule after truck crashes into 4 vehicles, rams into hotel

On Tuesday, July 4, a container truck crashed with four cars and rammed into a hotel on Tuesday, leaving at least 15 people dead and more than 20 injured. The incident happened in the Shirpur taluka of Maharashtra’s Dhule district along the Mumbai-Agra Highway.

According to the reports, the incident is said to have taken place at 10:45 AM on the motorway in Dhule, close to the town of Palasner. The truck’s brakes reportedly failed, which caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The Maharashtra Highway Police confirmed the incident and said it crashed into a guesthouse on the highway.

CCTV footage of the collision showed the truck colliding with a white car as it was being driven at high speed. There were massive dust plumes in the air as the truck and the car collided. The crash caused some pedestrians who were standing on the roadside to get hit.

The cops arrived at the scene quickly after being informed. The injured people were taken urgently to hospitals in Shirpur and Dhule, according to the police. Investigations are still going on, and the victims’ identities have not yet been formally disclosed.

Earlier, a similar incident was reported from Buldhana district from Maharashtra. On Saturday, July 1, in a tragic incident, a bus burst into flames on the Samruddhi Mahamarg Motorway in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district, killing at least 26 people including 3 minors.

The accident occurred around 1:30 AM early morning on Saturday, while the bus was travelling from Yavatmal to Pune. According to police, the injured are receiving treatment at Buldhana Civil Hospital.

Saiyad Arifali files complaint in Mumbai against director and producer of 72 Hoorain for ‘insulting’ and ‘disrespecting’ Islam

OpIndia Staff
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Saiyad Arifali files complaint in Mumbai against director and producer of 72 Hoorain for ‘insulting’ and ‘disrespecting’ Islam

A few days ahead of the release of the much-anticipated film ’72 Hoorain’, a Mumbai-based man named Saiyad Arifali Mahemmodali has filed a complaint at Goregaon Police Station against the director and producer of the film. He has accused the makers of maligning the image of the Muslim community and insulting Islam religion.

“A man, Saiyad Arifali Mahemmodali files a complaint at Goregaon Police Station against the director and producer of the film, 72 Hoorain for “insulting and disrespecting his religion, promoting communal disharmony, discrimination, hatred and maligning the image of the Muslim community amongst public,” news agency ANI tweeted.

The movie 72 Hoorain is slated for a July 7 theatrical release. However, the makers of the movie are encountering a number of obstacles prior to its release, including being threatened with rape and death by Islamists. Yesterday (July 3) OpIndia reported how the movie’s director Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan has been bombarded with threats and abusive messages on social media.

The upcoming movie exposes the dark face of Islamic terrorism from 9/11 to 26/11. As such, enraged Islamists abused the filmmaker with the choicest of expletives and also gave rape threats to his mother. They also mocked his Hindu faith and vowed to harm him physically.

Earlier, some media reports quoted 72 Hoorain co-producer Ashoke Pandit as claiming that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) refused to give a certificate to the trailer of the movie. The Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan directorial premiered under the Indian Panorama section at the 2019 International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. 

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) later issued a statement denying reports that it had refused to issue a censor certificate to the movie ’72 Hoorain’ and its trailer. The CBFC said that the film ’72 Hoorain’ directed by Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan is already certified and the trailer certification of the film is in process. This press note by the CBFC came in response to some reports in the media claiming that the film certification has been restricted owing to certain corrections.

‘72 Hoorain’: Most anticipated upcoming movie

As per IMDb, ‘72 Hoorain’ is the most anticipated movie on a real-time popularity basis. Around 30.4% audience is waiting for the release of this film. It has left behind the movie ‘Gadar 2’, which is the sequel to the blockbuster hit Gadar: Ek Prem Katha released in 2001.

The film is scheduled for release on July 7. The film, directed by Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan and featuring Pavan Malhotra and Aamir Bashir in prominent roles, explores the repercussions of religiously motivated Islamic terrorism.

Punjab: CM Bhagwant Mann accuses previous Congress govt of helping Mukhtar Ansari, says they allotted prime land of Waqf Board to Ansari sons in Ropar

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab: CM Bhagwant Mann accuses previous Congress govt of helping Mukhtar Ansari, says they allotted prime land of Waqf Board to Ansari sons in Ropar

On Tuesday, July 4, Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab Bhagwant Mann accused the previous Congress government in the state of “helping” dreaded gangster Mukhtar Ansari in evading the case in MP/MLA court. He further accused the then-Congress-ruled Punjab government of allotting prime land of Waqf Board to the sons of Mukhtar Ansari in Ropar district.

Bhagwant Mann was interacting with the media when he levelled the accusations. Former CM Amarinder Singh, who left Congress and joined hands with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) recently, has refuted the claims and said he did not know Ansari. In reply, CM Mann, in a challenging tone, asked Capt Singh to talk to his son Raninder Singh and confirm via whom Ansari approached then-Punjab Government. He claimed that Raninder met Ansari repeatedly and accused the former CM of lying on the issue to “mislead the people”.

CM Mann also accused the Captain-led Congress government of helping Ansari to secure prime Waqf Board land in Ropar. He also showed some documents as evidence of the allotment. He challenged Captain to explain how the prime land of the Waqf Board in Ropar was allotted to the sons of Ansari, namely Abbas and Umar Ansari, without the intervention of the former CM. He further added in the coming days, he would furnish more proof regarding the wrongdoings of the Congress-led Punjab government in matters related to Ansari.

Punjab Police arrested Mukhtar Ansari for allegedly making an extortion call to a Mohali-based realtor for Rs 10 crore. Punjab Police brought Ansari from Bonda jail in UP, where he was lodged at the time, waiting for trial in MP/MLA court. Had he not been transferred to Punjab, the judgment in the pending case in MP/MLA fast-track court would have come in around three months, CM Mann claimed.

Meanwhile, UP Police approached the Punjab government 27 times to hand over Ansari to them, but it never happened. Later, UP Police approached Supreme Court to get custody of Ansari. CM Mann accused the previous government of hiring advocates at exorbitant rates to shield Ansari.

CM Mann said that his government would recover Rs 55 lakh from Captain Amarinder Singh and former Deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. The money was to be paid as fees to senior lawyer Dushyant Dave who was hired to represent the Punjab government in the apex court against the transfer of Ansari back to Uttar Pradesh.

In a statement, Mann said he would not put pressure on the state treasury for the pending payment of Dave. Mann also accused the then-Congress government of giving VIP treatment to Ansari during his stay in jail in the state. Ansari was in Ropar jail from January 2019 to April 2021. He further claimed Ansari’s wife lived in a house on the backside of the jail during the time Ansari was lodged in Ropar jail.

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